scholarly journals A 29-year retrospective analysis of koala rescues in New South Wales, Australia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renae Charalambous ◽  
Edward J. Narayan
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Management Team ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Induce Stress ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Government Legislation ◽  
Port Stephens

AbstractThe koala (Phascolactos cinereus) is currently listed by both the IUCN and the Australian Governments’ Threatened Species Scientific Committee as vulnerable to extinction with a decreasing population trend. This listing can be attributed to climate change and its impact on ecosystems, and anthropomorphic environmental change due to extensive land clearing and habitat fragmentation. These have both been proven to induce stress, which influences the onset of disease. This novel study performed a retrospective analysis whereby records for 12,543 wild, rescued koalas in New South Wales (NSW), Australia were studied in order to determine trends in koala sightings, clinical admissions and injury diagnoses over a period of 29 years (1989-2018). Results indicated that between all three study locations (Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and Lismore), the most common reason koalas were admitted into care was because of disease, the most common disease diagnosed was signs of chlamydia, and the most common outcome for koalas admitted into care was released. At Port Stephens, mature and female koalas were diagnosed with a disease more than any other age or sex, while juvenile and male koalas were released (back into the wild) more than any other age or sex. Additionally, there were fewer koalas with a disease and fewer koalas released in Port Stephens as each year progressed. At Port Macquarie, mature and male koalas were diagnosed with a disease more than any other age or sex, while juvenile and female koalas were released more than any other age or sex. Additionally, there were more koalas with a disease and fewer koalas released in Port Macquarie as each year progressed. At Lismore, adult and female koalas were diagnosed with a disease more than any other age or sex, while joey and male koalas were released more than any other age or sex. Additionally, there were more koalas with a disease and fewer koalas released in Lismore as each year progressed. Determining trends in clinical admissions and diagnosis over such a substantial period of time is an important factor in preventing the continuing decline of koalas throughout Australia, and in particular NSW. It is important to note that there are cultural differences between koala rescue groups in the three study locations (Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and Lismore). These differences may be reflected in the outcomes of koala patients as each group are driven by their own management team. It is essential that any further decline of koala populations is prevented, however this can only be achieved through informed recommendations through research studies such as these. These recommendations should lead to government legislation which can provide stronger protection to koala habitat.

The contribution of the community to defining the distribution of a vulnerable species, the spotted-tailed quoll, Dasyurus maculatus

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Alison Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Field Survey ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Vulnerable Species ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Private Lands ◽  
Survey Techniques ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Port Stephens

Community-based wildlife postal surveys, which included the spotted-tailed quoll, were undertaken in Eden, Port Stephens, Bellingen and Iluka. This resulted in 68 records for spotted-tailed quolls for Eden, 40 for Port Stephens, 39 for Bellingen and 7 for Iluka. Such a high number of records from coastal New South Wales, with many on private lands, identifies postal surveys as a major source of previously overlooked sightings. Spotted-tailed quolls have declined in range by as much as 50–90% since European settlement, which has seen them listed as a nationally vulnerable species. There have been few surveys of spotted-tailed quolls in New South Wales due to their difficulty of detection using standard field survey techniques, such as cage trapping and hair tube sampling. Their unique appearance makes them an ideal species to include in community-based surveys. Future use of these surveys has the potential to contribute significantly to conservation programs of spotted-tailed quolls that involve private lands and local support.

The impact of fire and dogs on Koalas at Port Stephens, New South Wales, using population viability analysis

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danial Lunney ◽  
Shaan Gresser ◽  
Lisa E. O'neill ◽  
Alison Matthews ◽  
Jonathan Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Local Population ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Population Viability Analysis ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Viability Analysis ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Port Stephens

The Port Stephens Koala Phascolarctos cinereus population has been regarded as one of the strongholds for Koalas in New South Wales. This study applied population viability analysis to investigate the impact of fire and predation by dogs on the viability of the local population. The rapid decline of the modelled Koala population under basic assumptions throws the assumed security of such large populations into question. In all the modelled management scenarios, reducing mortality had more influence than any other factor. Reducing the severity and frequency of large catastrophic fires improved the probability of survival for the population, though the modelled population size still declined sharply. Any management action to improve Koala survival must be accompanied by a reduction in mortality from dog attacks. Fires and dogs will have an ever greater impact on Koala populations as coastal forests become more fragmented and isolated by urban development, and their combined control will be needed to complement land-use planning measures to address habitat loss and fragmentation.

Range extension and first occurrence of the thorny seahorse Hippocampus histrix in New South Wales, Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Harasti
Keyword(s):  
East Coast ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Range Extension ◽  
South Wales ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Port Stephens

Between 2007 and 2014, three individual thorny seahorses,Hippocampus histrix,were recorded in Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia. Specimens ranged in size from 6 to 8 cm and were considered to be females. This extends the known range ofH. histrixalong the east coast of Australia by 1700 km.

The tree species preferences of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) inhabiting forest and woodland communities on Quaternary deposits in the Port Stephens area, New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Phillips ◽  
John Callaghan ◽  
Valerie Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Quaternary Deposits ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Species Preferences ◽  
Woodland Communities ◽  
Port Stephens

An assessment of the tree species preferences of koalas inhabiting forest and woodland communities growing on Quaternary deposits in the Port Stephens area, New South Wales, was undertaken between November 1994 and March 1996. Using a plot-based methodology, 3847 trees were sampled, comprising 15 Eucalyptus species and 17 species of non-eucalypt. Evidence of tree use by koalas, specifically the presence of koala faecal pellets, was recorded from beneath 10 Eucalyptus species and 9 species of non-eucalypt. Tree species preferences were determined by analyses of log- likelihood ratios derived from data based on the presence/absence of koala faecal pellets, rather than on gross counts. This approach confirmed significant variation in the levels of utilisation amongst and between different tree species, and that two in particular – swamp mahogany (E. robusta) and drooping red gum (E. parramattensis) – were most preferred. Increases in the levels of use of other tree species were also positively associated with the presence of E. robusta and/or E. parramattensis. Levels of utilisation of E. robusta and E. parramattensis did not alter significantly in response to changes in their respective densities, suggesting that the relative abundance of both was important in terms of understanding the carrying capacity of vegetation communities utilised by koalas. The results have established the success with which an enumerative approach to the interpretation of faecal pellet data can be utilised to clarify the tree species preferences of koalas. Application of the approach for habitat assessment and mapping purposes is also discussed.

Mass mortalities of unknown aetiology in Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas in Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Go ◽  
AT Deutscher ◽  
ZB Spiers ◽  
K Dahle ◽  
PD Kirkland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crassostrea Gigas ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Unknown Aetiology ◽  
Pacific Oysters ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Mass Mortalities ◽  
Port Stephens

scholarly journals First records of three fishes, and southern records of a further four fishes, from New South Wales, Australia

Check List ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom R. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Fish Larvae ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Tropical Fish ◽  
Prolonged Survival ◽  
East Australian Current ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Port Stephens

A study of fishes from Port Stephens in New South Wales, Australia has identified first records for three species in New South Wales — Genicanthus watanabei (Yasuda & Tominaga, 1970), Parupeneus indicus (Shaw, 1803), and Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides (Lacépède, 1801) — and southernmost records for a further four species: Cantherhines fronticinctus (Günther, 1866), Coris bulbifrons (Randall & Kuiter, 1982), Mulloidichthys vanicolensis (Valenciennes, 1831), and Paracirrhites forsteri (Schneider, 1801). New sightings were up to 980 km south of previous records, indicating prolonged survival of tropical fish larvae in the East Australian Current.

Determining the distribution of Koala habitat across a shire as a basis for conservation: a case study from Port Stephens, New South Wales

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Stephen Phillips ◽  
John Callaghan ◽  
Dionne Coburn
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
New South ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Remnant Vegetation ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Government Planning ◽  
Port Stephens

The Australian National Koala Conservation Strategy recognizes the importance of conserving Koalas in their existing habitat, particularly through the integration of Koala conservation into local government planning (ANZECC 1998). The aim of this study was to define, rank and map the distribution of Koala habitat in Port Stephens Shire, New South Wales. The procedure was to merge the results of two independent survey techniques, each of which was interpreted using a vegetation map specifically prepared for this study. A field survey used a plot-based sampling protocol to determine tree species preferences based on the presence/absence of Koala faecal pellets. Data were obtained on 8 764 trees comprising 19 eucalypt and 12 non-eucalypt species. A high-profile community survey obtained 2 756 Koala records. Koala habitat maps from both survey methods were examined as overlapping GIS layers. Combined Koala habitat categories were then devised, ranked and mapped across the Shire. This study provides a practical and repeatable means of identifying and conserving Koala habitat in existing remnant vegetation over which local government has planning jurisdiction.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document